Dr Partha Kar, clinical director of diabetes at Portsmouth and South East Hampshire diabetes service, explains how the care of a group of diabetes patients who were previously managed at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has shifted to general practice.

The service defined six patient groups, known as the ‘super six’, whose care would continue to be managed in hospital. The ongoing care of all other patients with diabetes was discharged to primary care.

To facilitate this new way of working, a community diabetes team provides support and education to primary care professionals in 82 GP practices. The team consists of diabetes consultants from Portsmouth hospital and diabetes specialist nurses. Support includes: an email and telephone service for specialist advice, biannual practice visits from consultants, and education for newly diagnosed patients.

Partha says the biggest challenge to this way of working is change – redefining the way in which diabetologists work, and using electronic/virtual means which are still alien concepts for many people working in the NHS.